Turns out people do indeed dig promo products.
A new survey from a Top 40 distributor, polled about 2,000 American consumers and found that 53% “love receiving promotional products,” while 76% share that their perception of a brand has changed in a positive way because they received a logoed item from said brand.
Notably, half (51%) use promotional products in their daily lives.
Especially encouraging? The outlook for promo is bright, given generational predilections, the survey shows. Nearly nine in 10 millennials (87%) and exactly eight in 10 Gen Zers are more likely to perceive a brand in a positive way after receiving a promo product.
When asked about their ideal promotional products, consumers said they care most about how “useful” (49%) and “unique” (42%) the product is. When comparing among different age groups, Gen Zers care more about how “fashionable” (43%) and how “funny” (42%) the item and design are. Here are the top qualities that make for an ideal swag item, ranked in order of importance:
1. Useful (49%)
2. Unique (42%)
3. Colorful (40%)
4. Fashionable (39%)
5. Recyclable (36%)
6. A keepsake (36%)
7. Edible (35%)
8. Funny (34%)
When asked about the design of promotional products, the survey found that the majority of people prefer products with an unusual or unique design (45%) or brand name (38%). Here are the top qualities that Americans prefer when it comes to the design of promotional items:
1. Unique or unusual design (45%)
2. Eye-catching design (42%)
3. Unique or unusual brand name (38%)
4. Interesting use of materials (37%)
5. A quote or catchphrase (37%)
6. Logo positioning (35%)
7. Color scheme (35%)
8. Font (35%)
More findings from the survey include:
• 49% of consumers prefer to receive promotional products from small businesses or unknown brands.
• 40% are more likely to write a positive review online after receiving a promotional item from a brand.
• 48% agree that promotional products are a more memorable way of marketing than simply advertising.
• 44% of people are more likely to visit a business location (e.g., shop or restaurant) after receiving a promotional item from a brand.
• 83% have worn or used a promotional item from the company they work for.
• 34% consider sustainability to be an important factor – and 32% consider it important for a product to be locally made.
According to the survey, the top 10 promo products U.S. consumers want to receive are:
1. T-shirts
2. Pens
3. Mugs
4. Water bottles
5. Headphones
6. Tote bags
7. Sunglasses
8. Hoodies
9. Calendars
10. Umbrellas